While the diagnosis of our political-economic illness has been established, remedies are hard to come. What can we do to restore our broken democracy? Which modes of political participation are likely to have an impact? And what are the loci of political innovation in the wake of the crisis? It is with these questions that Reclaiming Democracy engages. We argue that the managerial approach to solving the crisis violates тАШa right to politicsтАЩ, that is, a right that our collective life be guided by meaningful politics: by discussion of and decision among genuinely alternative principles and policies. The contributors to this volume are united in their commitment to explore how and where this right can be affirmed in a way that resuscitates democracy in the wake of the crisis. Mixing theoretical reflection and empirical analysis the book offers fresh insights into democracyтАЩs current conundrum and makes concrete proposals about how тАШthe right to politicsтАЩ can be protected.
Albena Azmanova teaches political theory at the University of KentтАЩs Brussels School of International Studies where she heads the postgraduate program in international political economy.
Mihaela Mihai is the 50th Anniversary Lecturer at the University of York, UK. Her research interests cut across political theory, political science and law.